After a Heavyweight fiesta at UFC Fight Night 86: “Rothwell vs. Dos Santos,” MMAmania.com ponders what is next for the main card winners who picked up victories last Sunday (April 10, 2016) on FOX Sports 1 inside the Arena Zagreb in Croatia.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned from a two week sabbatical to put on a Heavyweight showcase in Croatia yesterday (Sun., April 10, 2016), as the Arena Zagreb played host to the UFC Fight Night 86: “Rothwell vs. Dos Santos” event live on FOX Sports 1.
Junior Dos Santos proved to have plenty left in the gas tank by completely outclassing Ben Rothwell for 25 minutes in the main event of the evening (highlights here). The former UFC Heavyweight Champion put on a clinical performance, battering Rothwell on the feet en route to a unanimous decision victory.
In the co-main event, Derrick Lewis earned yet another violent knockout, this time taking out longtime veteran Gabriel Gonzaga late in the first round.
Check out the highlights here.
With that quick recap of last night’s marquee bouts, it’s now time to play matchmaker with our “Next Matches To Make.”
Winner: Junior Dos Santos
Who Should He Fight Next: Mark Hunt
Junior Dos Santos has fought the who’s who of the Heavyweight division, and after a captivating performance against the streaking Ben Rothwell, the former Heavyweight champ finds himself right back in the title mix.
With most of the top ranked Heavyweights either booked for upcoming fights or recently throwing down in the past month, Dos Santos doesn’t exactly have his pick of the litter.
Following his impressive performance last night, No. 8 ranked Mark Hunt called out to Dana White to give him his rematch against Dos Santos later this year.
If you recall, “JDS” and the “Super Samoan” put on an instant classic at UFC 160, with Dos Santos pulling off a ridiculous spinning wheel kick for the knockout late in the third round.
Two years later, the Heavyweight legends may battle once again.
Winner: Derrick Lewis
Who Should He Fight Next: Roy Nelson
“The Black Beast” has earned a top 15 opponent his next time out.
Derrick Lewis earned his third straight knockout victory in Zagreb this past weekend, violently putting away the notoriously durable Gabriel Gonzaga late in the first round.
The finish was Lewis’ 14th career knockout, and fifth inside the Octagon.
With fellow heavy-handed Heavyweight Roy Nelson looking for a fight, it seems Lewis would be the perfect fit for what should be a wildly entertaining contest.
Winner: Francis Ngannou
Who Should He Fight Next: Timothy Johnson
Francis Ngannou may very well be deemed Cheick Kongo 2.0.
The gargantuan Frenchman is 7-1 in his MMA career, including his most recent savage beating over Curtis Blaydes at UFC Fight Night 86 that caused the doctor to stop the fight prior to the third round.
Among those seven victories, Ngannou has finished six opponents, including three straight knockouts.
At 29 year old, UFC brass doesn’t necessarily have to catapult him up the Heavyweight ladder just yet, as they should take the time necessary to build up and market this potential star.
Considering the timing, I’d like to see Ngannou take on fellow UFC Fight Night 86 victor Timothy Johnson.
Winner: Jan Blachowicz
Who Should He Fight Next: Nikita Krylov or Francimar Barroso
Jan Blachowicz picked up a much needed victory in Croatia on Sunday, defeating hometown favorite Igor Pokrajac is an absolutely thrilling fight that saw both men throw caution to the wind and put on a show for the fans in attendance.
Blachowicz had lost two straight decisions in the 205-pound division, and a loss in Zagreb could have very well been the death knell to his UFC career.
Now revitalized, Blachowicz should fight the winner of the Nikita Krylov vs. Francimar Barroso fight in May.
Winner: Maryna Moroz
Who Should He Fight Next: Jessica Penne
Maryna Moroz is a legit talent in the Women’s Strawweight division, and her impressive decision victory over UFC newcomer Cristina Stanciu steered Moroz back on track following a difficult loss to title challenger Valerie Letourneau.
“The Iron Woman” is unquestionably a top 10 talent, so UFC brass should slate her against yet another former title challenger in Jessica Penne.
It has been nearly a year since Penne was brutalized at the hands of the champ, but you have to believe she is hungry to step back in the cage.
This hypothetical fight could serve as a main card opener, and could very well steal “Fight of the Night” honors on any card.
For complete UFC Fight Night 86: “Rothwell vs. Dos Santos” results and play-by-play, click here!